Wyandotte County amends order to require masks during indoor exercise, childcare
People exercising indoors and children and staff in childcare environments will now have to wear masks, according to changes Wyandotte County issued to its mask order on Tuesday.
The changes will go into effect after midnight Wednesday.
The amendments to the original mask order mean that athletes exercising indoors, including in team sports and in gym or weightlifting activities, will be required to wear face masks.
People exercising alone outdoors are still exempt from the requirement.
The amendment also means that children over 5 and all staff in areas such as childcare, daycare or educational settings will be required to wear masks unless they are eating, drinking or sleeping. The CDC recommends children over age 2 wear masks.
“Socially distanced outdoor exercise is relatively safe, but we are really concerned about the potential for spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 with indoor exercise, whether it is people working out at a gym or participating in team sports,” Erin Corriveau, deputy medical officer with the Unified Government Public Health Department, said in a statement.
Corriveau said there is no scientific evidence that indicates wearing a mask during exercise is harmful.
As for childcare environments, Chief Medical Officer Allen Greiner said in a statement that, “We feel it is incredibly important for face coverings to be worn in these settings for the protection of the children, staff, and their families.”
He said wearing face coverings is the best way to minimize the chance of COVID-19 spreading in those settings.
Certain exemptions to the mask order still apply, including for those who have a medical condition or in situations where the ability to read lips is essential to communicate.
Violating the mask order is a Class C misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $500 and 30 days in jail.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 7:13 PM.
